Stress relief, one drop at a time.

September 23, 2014 by

Stress.

It sure does have a bad reputation, doesn’t it?

Like carbon monoxide, it’s dubbed the silent killer because of how stealthily it can exert its nefarious effects.

Now don’t get me wrong, not all stress is bad.

We need stress in our lives. We need it to grow, improve, and more importantly, to thrive.

We need it as a stimulus that initiates an adaptation (for more information on the science of stress, one can follow the google trail on Dr. Hans Selye, the “grandfather” of stress, and learn more about his General Adaptation Syndrome).

But in order for stress to cause a beneficial change, it must be managed.

So without further ado, here’s one of our favourite stress management techniques that doesn’t involve chugging back half a bottle (or full bottle) of wine:

A hot bath.

Sounds simple. And it is.

Just follow the 3 easy steps listed below:

  1. Place stopper over drain and turn on faucet at desired water temperature.

  2. Let water run until desired level of water in bathtub is reached. Do not overfill.

  3. Carefully step in to stress-killing oasis and soak for requisite time being careful not to drown.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

Give it a try and let us know how you feel.

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Officer Down.

September 13, 2012 by

And it’s not from what you might think.

Data suggest law enforcement officers such as police are at greater risk of certain diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and premature death, at a rate higher than the general public.

In fact, a Virginia Municipal Group Self Insurance Association (VMGSIA) study found that officers lived, on average, only 2-5 years past their retirement.

manage stress to avoid untimely death

Not an exciting prospect, is it?

All those years of service and only a few years to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

This exceedingly high illness, injury and death rate was attributed to a lack of personal and agency fitness and wellness programs. Many of the injuries and illnesses were considered to have “modifiable risk factors” where the health conditions and related costs could be controlled and minimized.

At this point, you’re probably thinking “what can I do about it?”

The short answer: take a proactive approach and modify your risk factors.

While it would be impossible to remove all the risk factors (e.g. shift work, exposure to various environments, and on-the-job stress like chasing armed bandits) you can definitely put yourself in the best position to manage the ones you do face.

This would make it less likely that your retirement will be cut so tragically short.

Photo Credit: Joshua Sherurcij

What does that mean for you?

That means you’ll need to not only get in, but stay in, the best physical shape possible. You’ll need to improve your endurance, strength, power and athleticism. You’ll need to learn how to bend, twist, and move efficiently. You’ll need to manage your daily stresses so that your body can recover. You’ll need to prevent injuries before they happen and resolve the ones you currently have so they don’t get worse or put you at risk.

You will need to become the one in charge of your body, so it does what you need it to do, when you need it to do it.

If you’re not sure where to begin, we can help you!

As a high performance sports medicine and physiotherapy clinic in Woodbridge, we have significant experience working with emergency service personnel such as members of the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Fire Service. We understand the specific physical job requirements that ensures you make it home safely at the end of your shift.

If you’re interested in finding out how our specialized programs for emergency service personnel can help you, contact us today!

Yours in movement,

Team Primal

 

 

 

 

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